US3754581A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for cargo transfer system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-06-01
•
Granted: 1973-08-28
•
Expires: 1991-06-01
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to method and apparatus for the transfer of flowable cargo from ship to ship without the necessity of docking. It utilizes on one ship a transfer hose that, in the preferred embodiment, is trailed out behind the first ship as it moves through the water. The hose is equipped with a probe end that is received in an opening in the bow of the second ship moving along behind the first ship. Locking means secures the hose in the second ship while the transfer takes place. The probe end is provided with sealing means that may be opened and closed, depending upon the direction of the pumping action. Pumps are provided on both ships, and in the second ship the pump is in the chamber that receives the transferred cargo. The probe end is provided with float, ballast and trim means to maintain it properly in the water as it is received and held by the second ship.
Inventors
- 👤 R Taggart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:43
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B27/00; B63B27/29
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A cargo transfer system for transferring flowable cargo between vessels while on water and comprised of, means for unloading flowable cargo from a first vessel to a second vessel while said vessels are afloat, including, a storage hold on each vessel for said cargo, a cargo transfer hose connected to the first vessel, said hose having a floatable probe on one end of the hose, means for extending the probe end of the hose away from the first vessel, receiving means on the second vessel for receiving the probe end of the hose, and pump means on one of said vessels to pump said cargo through the hose to the second vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A cargo transfer system for transferring flowable cargo between vessels while on water and comprised of, means for unloading flowable cargo from a first vessel to a second vessel while said vessels are afloat, including, a storage hold on each vessel for said cargo, a cargo transfer hose connected to the first vessel, said hose having a floatable probe on one end of the hose, means for extending the probe end of the hose away from the first vessel, receiving means on the second vessel for receiving the probe end of the hose, and pump means on one of said vessels to pump said cargo through the hose to the second vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The invention of claim 1 and further including, a first chamber in the second vessel, said probe end discharging into said first chamber when received in the receiving means, said first chamber having first discharge outlet means to the water, second discharge outlet means to the storage hold of the second vessel, and control means for opening and closing the first and second discharge outlet means as desired.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention of claim 2 and further including a settling tank in the second vessel, third discharge outlet means from the first chamber to the settling tank, said control means being further defined as means for opening and closing the first, second and third discharge outlet means as desired.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said first chamber further includes, second pump means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 1 and further including, a pressurizing duct directed against the transfer hose when it is in the receiving means to assist in disconnecting the hose from the receiving means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 4 and further including, pressurizing duct means in said first chamber for the introduction of pressurizing fluid into the first chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 1 and including, individually controlled port and starboard thruster discharge means for assisting in the maneuvering of the vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention of claim 2 and further including, a pump in the first chamber, the first discharge outlet means being further defined as including, port and starboard bow thruster discharges which may be opened and closed independently of each other to assist in maneuvering the vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 1 and including means for retracting into, and storing in the first vessel the hose and probe end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
The invention of claim 9 wherein said retracting and storing means includes, a tunnel in said first vessel to receive said hose, sealing means on the hose for forming a sliding seal with the tunnel, pressure reducing means operatively connected to the tunnel for reducing the pressure in the tunnel on the inboard side of said sealing means, whereby the pressure exerted on the sealing means, hose and probe end by the water will urge the hose into said tunnel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 10 wherein said pump means is further defined as pump means located on said first vessel and having means for reversing pumping action to form the pressure reducing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention of claim 9 wherein said retracting means includes, a tunnel in said first vessel to receive said hose, sealing means on one of said hose and tunnel to form a sliding seal between the hose and tunnel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
111 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said hose is defined as, a hose extendable from, and retractable into, a tunnel in the first vessel, sealing means at the end of the hose opposite the probe end for forming a sliding seal with the tunnel side wall, a first flange near the innermost end of the tunnel for mating with the sealing means when the hose is fully retracted, and a second flange near the outermost end of The tunnel for mating with the sealing means when the hose is fully extended, said sealing means forming fluid-tight seals with the respective first and second flanges when said sealing means is mated therewith.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the sealing means includes, valve means for opening and closing the innermost end of the hose.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the probe is further defined as including, buoyancy means for maintaining the probe at the desired level in the water.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the buoyancy means is further defined as including, ballast means, and ballast control means for adjusting the level of the probe in the water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 1 and further including, trim control means for providing trim to the probe as it is moved through the water.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 17 wherein the probe and buoyancy means are constructed to provide trim for the probe as it is moved through the water.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the probe is further defined as including, a housing attached to the hose, a passageway through the housing for the passage of said cargo, a discharge outlet in the housing, closure means for opening and closing the discharge outlet.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention of claim 19 wherein the closure means is further defined as, a piston slidably mounted in the housing, a cap on said piston that mates with the discharge outlet to form a fluid-tight seal therewith, flange means on the piston and discharge outlet to limit the sliding movement of the piston.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
62 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the probe is further defined as including, a discharge outlet, means for opening and closing the discharge outlet as desired, buoyancy means, ballast means, and buoyancy and ballast control means for maintaining the probe at the desired level in the water, trim means for maintaining the probe in trim as it is moved through the water.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
52 words
The invention of claim 21 wherein the buoyancy and trim means are further defined as, float struts attached to the probe and including buoyancy chambers therein and being constructed so as to provide trim as the probe is moved through the water, the ballast control means being incorporated in the float struts.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
97 words
The invention of claim 22 wherein the probe is further defined as, a housing attached to the hose, a passageway through said housing connected to the discharge outlet, said opening and closing means being further defined as including, a piston slidably mounted in the housing, a portion of the piston extending through the discharge outlet, cap means attached to said piston portion for forming a fluid-tight seal with the discharge outlet when the piston is retracted, whereby cargo moving through the hose may pass through the passageway and out the discharge outlet when the piston is extended.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 1 and further including, a pump in the first chamber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein, the pump is a centrifugal pump mounted for rotation about an axis that extends generally longitudinally of the vessel, the discharge of the pump being directed to said port and starboard bow thruster discharges.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein the control means is further defined as including, discharge vanes at the port and starboard bow thruster discharges, and means for opening and closing these vanes independently of each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3100006A
Cited
US3352332A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-27 | 1977-02-26 | 1977-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-27 | 1981-02-26 | 1981-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-27 | 1985-02-26 | 1985-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |